Comments on: First Pitch: Some Early Thoughts From Big League Camphttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html
Your best source for news on the Pittsburgh Pirates and their minor league system.Tue, 03 Mar 2015 20:20:03 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1By: IC Bobhttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25127
Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:04:29 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25127I like Tabby but the reality is he has a lot to prove after last season. He has never hit for any power and he is average at best in the field. As for him leading off, if he starts he will likely be the second worst hitter in the line up only ahead of Barmes. Why would you lead off your second worst hitter? Marte shredded the Dominican league while getting quite a few walks this year. The ball explodes off his bat and he can run like the wind. Like I said I like Tabby and hope he gets it going. If he were to become the player he was his rookie season then I would tend to agree with you but that was back in 2010 and feels like it was more distant then that.
]]>By: Susanne Klich Langfordhttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25126
Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:18:20 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25126Two things…it is unfair to say Marte is bad at getting on base. If he becomes a .290 hitter and walks 40 or so times a year his obp will be decent for a leadoff hitter. Also leading off is not just getting on base. A leadoff hitter with the ability to get himself into scoring position 75+ times a year is extremely valuable…and Marte can do that. Still, I am not against Tabata batting leadoff. He can work counts and get on base…he’s shown that a lot in the past. We just need him to show more gap power and he needs to drastically improve his sb% from last year. He looks good…let’s see if he can stay focused for 6 months. Sometimes I believe Tabata is really the age they originally said he was because of his immaturity.
]]>By: jamesmvargohttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25124
Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:16:59 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25124Not drinking the Tabata Kool-aid again. He sucks us in and come regular season, he’s back! I hope he is better, but not optimistic.
]]>By: emjayinTNhttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25123
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:09:08 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25123Starling Marte is a Top 100 Prospect who has dazzled the minors all the way through – he just keeps getting better each year. The Pirates want reps for this kid and batting him leadoff is what they need to do. He was overwhelmed in the majors and still managed to get a .300 OBP and a .437 Slg %age in his first exposure. I like Tabata, but .315 OBP and a .348 Slg %age as an experienced hitter? Cmon, that’s a no brainer. After leading the Eastern League in hitting at AA in 2011, Marte goes to AAA and posts .286, 21 doubles, 13 triples, 12 HR’s, and 62 RBI in 393 AB’s before coming to the majors – play the man at leadoff. He will be a #3 or #5 in a few years.
]]>By: The Green Weeniehttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25122
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:48:33 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25122Marte’s carreer stats:http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9241&position=OF

I’m sorry, but this just isn’t true. Ever. At the major league level, Marte had a OBP of .300 over 182 plate appearance, while Tabata had a .315 OBP over 374 PA last year. Furthermore, Tabata’s career OBP is .338. Not that saying that make him an ideal lead off guy himself, but better than Marte’s .300.

And even in the minors, Marte had a .347 OBP (431 PA) at AAA Indy last year, while Tabata had a .353 OBP (173) at Indy last year and a .412 OBP in 2011 (granted 38 PA), .373 in 2010 (252 PA) and a .333 in 2009 (148 PA). So you have to go back 4 years to find a season when Tabata underperformed Marte’s OBP at a similar lever and given that Marte and Tabata are nearly the same age (Tabata is 2 months older!) that is an entirely unfair comparison.

]]>By: IC Bobhttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25120
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:15:27 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25120Martes OBP was higher then Tabbys. plus if you look at his minor league numbers he had a 350 OBP through his career. I think some of you are putting way to much emphasis on his short time in the league. The kid can hit and he can run. That fits a whole lot better then a guy that has shown he can do neither. On this team their are no players who take pitches at the level they should so I don ‘t see a true leadoff hitter in the bunch. Additionally putting Marte behind Jones and or Alveraz would totally waste his speed and turn his triples into doubles and doubles into singles.
]]>By: jalcornhttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25119
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:37:22 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25119The job of a leadoff hitter is to get on base, Marte is flat out bad at doing that. He does many things well that would make him an ideal 5th hitter, but getting on base is his worst attribute.

Walker should leadoff vs RHP, Snider hitting 2nd.

Tabata leadoff against LHP, Walker 2nd.

]]>By: wkkortashttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25118
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:08:22 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25118But Marte hasn’t been a high OBP guy–he’s never walked a lot, and certainly didn’t after he came up last year. I agree with you on his potential and his tools, but he’s unlikely–and certainly not right now–to be the best fit as a top-of-the order guy.
]]>By: Ian Rothermundhttp://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/first-pitch-some-early-thoughts-from-big-league-camp.html#comment-25116
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:47:12 +0000http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=47556#comment-25116Why are people so against Marte leading off? I mean, I can understand if the argument is that he’s just not ready, but he possesses as much upside as anyone on the team. He’s probably the fastest player on the team, and from the games last year, I think he has a sneaky amount of power that people haven’t quite realized yet…not to mention he’s always managed to hit for a high average. That’s the kind of guy you want receiving the more AB’s on the team. That’s what it’s really all about, getting the best, most dynamic offensive players the most opportunities on the team. In my opinion, the only reason they shouldn’t be leading off with McCutchen is that he’s the absolute best hitter on the team, and it would just be nice to have a couple higher OBP guys in front of him so he’s not constantly batting with the bases empty. Marte is a player with a ton of potential to be an exciting, dynamic, game changer, while Tabata seems to have the upside of a guy with only above average speed, no power, that can hit for only a moderate average, and play so-so defense.
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